• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Iwate Prefecture to gauge the progress of the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

First, the Prime Minister visited a construction site for public housing for disaster-stricken households in the second block of Ogakuchi district in Otsuchi town, and received an explanatory overview of the project.

The Prime Minister then visited the workshop area of the Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project, an NPO that conducts activities utilizing sashiko, a traditional embroidery technique rooted in the Tohoku region.

Finally, the Prime Minister visited the refrigeration plant of a processing facility for fishery products and received an explanatory overview. The Prime Minister then visited the work area, and tasted wakame seaweed and other fishery products.

After the visit, the Prime Minister said,

“Today, I visited Otsuchi town which suffered catastrophic damage from the tsunami.

First, I visited the town's fourth set of public housing for disaster-stricken householdshousing for recovery from disasters. While the reconstruction process is indeed taking time due to the extent of the devastation, nevertheless, I saw for myself that steady progress is being made.

In addition, I visited the Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project, which was started through the leadership of a young woman from Yokohama who wished to help with the reconstruction. I saw many women engaged in sashiko work, which has helped them find meaning in their lives, and it made me realize that the efforts of such motivated people can in fact change the situation and pave the way for a new future.

Just now I visited a processing facility for fishery products. After suffering devastating damage, the facility is making a remarkable recovery thanks to the strong determination of managers and employees to restore the facility. Seeing this, I could tell that people's livelihoods are also gradually recovering, and could feel that momentum is building.

Financial support is of the essence for restoring livelihoods and industries. Therefore, I instructed Minister for Reconstruction Nemoto to create a new funding scheme to offer firm financial support for the reconstruction and the recovery of livelihoods.”

With regard to Japan-North Korea relations, the Prime Minister said,

“First of all, there are no plans for Ms. Eun Kyung to visit Japan. As such, the media reports are not true.

Today, after I complete this visit and return to Tokyo, I will be provided with an overview of the Japan-North Korea Government-level consultations from the Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau. I will then make an appropriate decision.

In any case, the consultations have now started. It has also been decided that a Special Investigation Committee will be launched. I will make a decision on how to proceed upon examining the details of the Committee as well as whether or not North Korea is truly acting in good faith. We will take all possible measures to return all of the abductees to Japan.”